The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
Those two weeks dragged a bit for Mia. But it didn't mean they were not enjoyable. Taking care of baby Liana was nothing short of an amazing experience for the couple. And they couldn't get enough of the beautiful little miracle they created.
Today was their last day on this world and come tomorrow morning, they will be headed for Earth. Mia could hardly contain how excited she was to finally be going home. Even more so, because she and Frieza will also have the opportunity to raise their daughter there. And together as a family, it will be an exciting chapter in their lives.
The small family was currently out on the balcony awaiting some lunch to be brought up to them. Both of them were sitting back on a couple comfortable lounge chairs. Frieza had the baby laying against his chest. He rubbed small circles on the infant's back, something she found very soothing, and started dozing off. Mia was laying on the lounge right next to them, with only one small table separating them.
"Can I ask you something?" Mia inquires.
Frieza turns his attention from the sky to her.
"Yes." He says.
She fiddled with some of the fabric on her stretchy dress.
"What's going to happen to the staff here at the house? Are they going to continue to stay here or...will they be allowed to leave if they want to do so?" She asks.
He gave it some thought. Frieza knew it be irrelevant for the staff to remain at this place. Especially, since he had no future plans of ever returning to this world, because once they settled on Earth, he didn't plan on ever leaving there.
"I suppose they could be relieved of their duties here and find positions elsewhere. I'm sure many of them would opt for returning to their own home worlds. Because unlike most of my recruited soldiers, majority of the staff here were forcibly brought to this base, and forced into their current duties." Frieza stated.
Mia cringed at hearing that. But sadly, she wasn't all that surprised. It would take a lot to not notice that many of the staff here had out right fear in their eyes when addressing or talking to the tyrant. Even Sorcha was very leery around him at times.
But the alien woman who became a good friend to her, was the main reason she was asking Frieza this question. Because Mia was hoping he'd at least free her from her duties here and allow her to go home. She saw sadness in Sorcha's eyes plenty of times whenever she talked about her home world, family, and friends. It was even more saddening to hear that her family died over the course her decades in servitude to the Galactic Emperor.
"Do they know yet, that we're leaving?" She asked.
"Yes, I've already informed them of our departure a couple days after Liana was born. I won't lie, it was amusing seeing the look of relief settle on all their faces at the news. But then that is nothing new, it's something I learned they do a lot after finding out I was departing from the base and will be away for an extended period of time." He said, with some laughter in his voice.
Mia though didn't really find it all that amusing. There was nothing funny about someone's blatant fear, especially when they knew one wrong move could cost them their lives.
She sighs, "I get that may seem funny to you. But at the same time, it really isn't amusing that people are outwardly afraid of the one powerful being that could easily end them."
"I know, and I apologize. At least in the end I'll be making it up to them by relieving them of their duties here and informing them that they may go home. I'll hold a small meeting down on the first floor and tell them then. I can do it a little later this afternoon, after lunch." He told her.
This put a smile on Mia's face, it was nice knowing that he will allow them to leave and go back to their lives before they came here. Even though she still didn't like most of his soldiers, she did like the staff. Many of them were quite nice to her and accommodating. Some would chat with her during some of their free time right here in the lounge area. Which she learned was a big go-to place for a lot of them during breaks.
Frieza could see how happy this decision made Mia. Probably because she could relate to how they felt about being stuck here under the tyrant's rule and unable to leave. She could only imagine the look on all their faces when he breaks the exciting news to all of them.
"I have one request. Let me break the news to Sorcha myself." Mia said.
"As you wish. You can either call her up on the intercom. Or when I go down there to hold the meeting, I'll send her up to you." He offered.
"Ok, send her up to me when you go down then." She replied.
He gave her a brief nod. And then they chatted a little more on the topic until one of the chefs came out onto the balcony with the lunch food tray for them.
"Will there be anything else?" The chef asked.
"No thank you." Frieza said.
"Thanks, Marco." Mia said.
The chef bowed his head.
"You're welcome. Enjoy." He says, right before he leaves.
Marco was a gentle soul and a damn good chef. Mia thought she'd hate the food here just as much as she disliked the food on the main ship. But the alien man really knew how to turn a dish of foods she didn't know anything about into something very tasty. He was also very easy to talk to.
The food smelled delicious, and they were eager to dig in. Frieza gently placed Liana in her little bassinet next to his lounge chair. Then he joined Mia for their lunch. They chatted about tomorrow morning's plans, and he explained to her that they will be taking one of the smaller and faster crafts for the journey. Frieza speculated at the cruiser's fastest speed, they could make it to Earth in five hours.
Mia nearly choked on her bit of food. She never would've thought the ride would be that quick. At most, she expected maybe eight to eleven hours, not knowing the cruisers could be that fast.
Eventually, the hour came when Frieza informed her that he will be going down to hold his small meeting to discuss everyone's departure. Mia was just finishing up nursing their daughter when he pressed one of the buttons on the intercom.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Forgive me for the short notice. But I'd like to hold a small meeting on the first floor in the Lobby with the whole staff present. Attendance will be in ten minutes." Frieza stated.
It was awfully short notice. Luckily, his staff was used to it. He heard confirmation from the heads of each department and informed him that everyone will be present. Frieza turned his attention to Mia, who was sitting on the couch with Liana. He approached them and sat down next to her.
"I won't be long. It will be quite brief. And I'll be sure to send Sorcha up before I start the meeting with the others." Frieza told her.
"Thanks." Mia says.
An amused smirk lights up her features.
"You may get quite a few bear hugs from them after this meeting." She teased.
Frieza snorted, "I sincerely hope not. Especially, since I know at least a couple who don't bathe as often as they should."
Mia chuckled at that remark. And even he cracked a small smile at that. He understood that she meant that after the initial shock, they will all be very happy to know they can go home and never have to return to this bleak world again.
This will also be the last thing he will have to do. Seeing as the tyrant already informed Berryblue and Kikono of his departure to Earth earlier last week. At first, they thought Frieza meant he was going to try his hand at obtaining the dragon balls again. Until he explained to them that he was going to set up residence there with Mia and their child.
It was at that time, Frieza wished he had a camera. Because the looks on his two top subordinates' faces were comical to say the least. Well, mostly Kikono's, Berryblue was better at concealing her reactions. The tyrant also had a feeling that the squat blue alien woman had a feeling that he had grown close to the human woman for quite some time now.
Something that was confirmed when he and Berryblue spoke again in private after his announcement. She wasn't upset. If anything, she was happy for him. After all, she was there with him from the very beginning when he was a child and watched him grow into who he was today. The older woman was in many ways like a surrogate mother to him after his own biological mother had died when he was very small.
Frieza had put her in charge. Something she will begin once he leaves. And he placed Kikono as her first in command. If anyone could keep the Empire afloat, it was Berryblue. The older woman was wise beyond her years and worked for both King Cold and later Frieza through many decades.
"I'll be heading down then. I'll be back soon." Frieza said.
Mia leaned in and gave him a small kiss. He gladly returned the kiss. Then Frieza leaned in and kissed his daughter on the head before he got up and headed for the elevator.
She had just finished nursing the baby when the elevator door slid open three minutes later. Sorcha exited the elevator and briefly looked around. She quickly spotted Mia and the baby on the far end of the room on the couch.
"Hey, Hun. Frieza said, you wanted to see me." Sorcha said.
Mia smiled at her and gestured for her friend to sit next to her. Sorcha sat beside the young mom and her daughter, waiting for her speak.
"I just wanted to tell you some great news. And I wanted you to hear it from me. And that is when we leave tomorrow, you and everyone else here in this house will be free to leave as well." Mia told her.
Sorcha's eyes slowly widened, and her lips parted slightly.
"What?" She gasped.
"Since we're going home, we thought it be best that you should all go home. Frieza is leaving his Empire permanently, he won't be coming back. In turn, he will never return to this world. So, it wouldn't be right or fair to make you all stay at house on a planet that will no longer be occupied by its ruler. Not to mention it was cruel that you were all forced to work here against your will. That's why the right thing to do; is to allow you all to be free again to do as you please. No longer tied to this bleak world and under anyone's servitude. You all deserve better, and this is it." Mia explained.
For the first time since Mia has known her, she saw tears form in the alien woman's eyes. But they weren't tears of sadness. Sorcha's tears were tears of absolute joy. And she couldn't help but carefully wrap her arms around the human woman.
"Oh Mia, I...I don't know what to say. Words cannot begin to express my gratitude. It also almost seems too good to be true." Sorcha says.
After a few moments she pulls back her teary smile morphing into an amused smirk.
"I'm almost tempted to ask you to pinch me just to make sure I'm not dreaming." Sorcha lightly jokes.
"You're not. This is real, Sorcha. We are all going home tomorrow." Mia assured her.
Sadness briefly flashed in the alien woman's eyes. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Mia. And she can only wonder why that was. Especially, since this is a time to be happy, not sad.
"What's wrong?" Mia asks.
Sorcha is silent for a moment, before she decides to speak.
"Don't get me wrong. I'm elated to know myself and the others are finally free. As far as going back to my home world though, I'm unsure how to feel about it. Probably because, I don't really have a home to go home to on my world. Seeing as my parents died some time ago, I don't have a family anymore. I'd most likely just be alone there. As much as I hate to admit it, there is really nothing to go home to." She admitted.
Mia was sad to hear this of her friend. Though she understood what that was like. Seeing as both her parents died a long time ago and she didn't have any family either before being captured by Frieza. Still, she had a home on Earth, and was doing just fine on her own. It kind of gave her an idea.
"Why don't you come to Earth with us then? You won't be alone. You will still have me around. I like to think it won't be difficult finding a home there and you can go back to what you love doing most, working in the medical field. And even though we've only known each other for about a year, in a way you became like family to me. And as family, we look out for one another." Mia said.
Sorcha felt a warmth pass through her at being considered family. She knew what Mia was saying held some truth to it. The two of them have become very close during the human woman's stay here. Close enough that they confided in each other about a lot of things and were there for one another. Sorcha will even go as far to admit that since Mia came into her life, this is the happiest she has been in a very long time during her long years of servitude.
"I think I'd like that very much. And thank you." Sorcha replied.
Mia wrapped her free arm around Sorcha and pulled her in for another hug.
"You're young, and still have so much life ahead of you. You may as well spend the rest of it happy and settled in a good place. And that good place is Earth. Trust me when I say, you will love it there." She stated.
Sorcha let out a brief chuckle.
"Oh, I know, you had me curious about your world ever since you told me all about it during our conversations throughout these last several months. Definitely curious enough to make me wish to visit it myself. Living there sounds even better though." She said.
At the same time, the staff downstairs all had equally shocked look on their faces at the news their Lord had just shared with them. After so many years under servitude, some of them almost had a hard time believing it.
When it finally did sink it, they were all just as ecstatic as Sorcha currently was upstairs. They couldn't thank the Galactic Emperor enough and a few asked how soon could they gather their things. Frieza told them they could start packing their belongings tonight. And that they could depart tomorrow as soon as he leaves with his family.
They all bowed in thanks right before he dismissed them back to chores they will do for the very last time that evening. Once most of them did disperse, Frieza made his way to the elevator and went back upstairs to his quarters.
He heard some soft laughter upon entering the room and saw the two women on the couch. Mia still had Liana laying on her chest with her head against her mother's shoulder. The infant was still asleep as the women conversed in quiet tones so not to wake her. Their attention turned to Frieza when he approached them and sat down on the other side of Mia.
Frieza smiled and gestured at the baby with his arms held up in front of them. Mia gently handed their daughter over to him. He held Liana close as Mia and Sorcha continued chatting. She was telling the alien woman a little more about Earth and what to expect. Something that got him curious.
"What would she have to expect?" Frieza asked.
That's when Mia explained that Sorcha will be joining them when they head out tomorrow. Although he didn't mind, Frieza wonder why that is, when she had her own home world to go home to. And that's when the alien woman explained there was really nothing there for her to go home to. They both asked him if it that was alright. In her excitement, Mia forgot to ask him if it was ok for her to join them.
"It's fine, I have every reason to believe that you will enjoy Earth. Even though I've only been there briefly a few times, I still noticed it appeared to be a very pleasant place with a nice population of people." Frieza said, addressing Sorcha.
The three continued their conversation for quite some time. They had no idea how long they were conversing until Chef Marco came up with their dinner. He had a beaming smile on his face as he walked in with the cart of food.
The three greeted him and moved to the small table near the center of the room where he was headed with the food. Frieza had placed Liana in her bassinet on the way to the table with the others.
"Greetings everyone! For this joyous occasion, I've taken the liberty of making your favorites!" Marco exclaimed.
Mia certainly liked the sound of that. She had a few favorites and Marco knew them all. Including her most favorite dishes of all. Something that was confirmed when he lifted the large silver lid off of the large tray. A lovely smell filled the area and made their stomachs grumble.
"Whoa, Marco. That really does look and smell amazing." Sorcha commented.
"Thank you, My Dear. I've also prepped some of the other staff members favorites. Yours included. It is currently waiting for you at the dining table in the kitchen." He informed her.
Not wanting to pass up on Marco's favorite cooking, especially since this will be one of the last times she will ever have it, Sorcha made her way around the table and stood beside the chef.
"On that note, I'm starving and going to go eat. I will see you all in the morning. You said departure is 9am, right?" Sorcha asks.
"That is correct. Pack up what you can tonight and meet us here no later than 8:45am." Frieza informed her.
"I'll be here." Sorcha replied.
She pauses for a long moment before speaking again.
"I really can't thank you both enough for this. And I also say this for everyone else here." She added.
"I concur, we're eternally grateful, My Lord." Marco chimed in.
"You're welcome. But in a way, it's really not me you should be thanking." Frieza says, before turning his gaze to Mia.
"This was actually Mia's idea. She figured since we were leaving and settling into a new home on Earth, that you all should do the same and go back to your perspective homes." He confessed.
Both Sorcha and Marco turned their attention to Mia, who smiled at them.
"I should've known it was you all along. Because I know that is just the kind of person you are." Sorcha said.
"And you still have our unending gratitude." Marco said.
"You're welcome. I just felt we all deserved to go home." Mia told them.
The two soon to be former servants bowed deeply in thanks, before they left the couple alone to enjoy their meal. Once they were finally alone, Frieza spoke.
"You be sure to pack everything you and Liana need as well. I can help with that after dinner." He said.
"Thanks, though there really isn't much left. Seeing as I started packing things little by little a few days after the birth. But you can definitely help me with some last-minute things." Mia replied.
And that was how they did spend the rest of their evening. The couple packed the last few things they would need to bring with them. Most of it was some more of the baby's things. Frieza laughed a little when Mia came out of the bathroom with several bottles of the shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel she used. Her meager defense was that she really liked the scents and that they didn't have any of said scents on Earth.
Of course, that only made him laugh more, which made her contemplate tossing one of the bottles at him. Though who was she kidding, he'd either dodge it or catch it, and she knew it.
When they did finish and were certain everything important was packed, they sat back down and relaxed for the rest of the evening. Mia fed Liana a few more times, and both of them took turns with the diapers. While in between they sat on the couch and read a couple books. Though Frieza still have to read a few sentences every now and then for her, because Mia still didn't have the language down pat, the downside of being a slow learner with new languages.
They read and chatted back and forth until it was late enough to retire to bed. The couple settled into bed for what would be their last night in this lavished home. But even they knew it paled in comparison to the new life and home they will have together as a family on Earth.
Until Next Time ;)